Blood Vessels

[chris.wg]

Ok this is not a complaint or even a concern. This is more a curiosity. For the past 2 years I, as I'm sure most of you, have been a pin cushion with blood draws. Initial hospital visit and now the rituxam treatments. From what I have noticed EVERY nurse or phlebotomist says oh you have good veins this should be easy. But 1 in around 5 miss. I believe my veins move a bit and despite being large is the cause of the trouble. Just kind of wondering if anyone else has noticed any thing similar that may show signs of this being WG or just me. I do know others without any kind of vasculitis who are a similar boat as me. So I thought I would put this question out here.

[LisaT]

I don't have that problem. Just one arm that seems to have 'better' veins than the other.

I've been wondering whether my worsening varicose veins and bruises that seem to come from nowhere are a sign of GPA/WG (and if happening presently, is does that mean flare /disease activity). similar topic so I thought I'd throw it in here. Hope you don't mind me piggybacking on your thread.

[Debbie C]

My veins are almost non exsistant. They are so small they have to use the smallest needle they have and then they still have trouble,and my veins used to be great. I have been noticing alot more lately that if I just bump something I get red blotches under my skin. The dr. said its my capillaries ?????

[Pete]

My veins have a slight tendency to roll during venipuncture. I advise the tech/nurse of the possibility. They make an adjustment to their procedure. I've had no problems with the puncture itself. Once in awhile, I won't bleed, so they have to try again in a different vein. I bruise more easily now. I think it's due to both long-term pred use and aging.

[Jaypfei]

I usually have to have the smallest needles and blood draws are sometimes a hit or miss, sorry for the pun. Yep, all I hear is "tiny, tiny veins!" Drawing blood has finally come to the point where they draw from my hands. No, I never used to have this problem prior to Dx's . My veins used to jump up and were easy to draw from. So yes, I think it's the GPA.

[LisaT]

Strange. It's counter-intuitive, I would have thought inflammation would make the veins larger rather than smaller. I guess I don't quite understand the inflammatory process...

[pberggren1]

The inflammation occurs on the inside of the vessel walls and makes the cross section area of the vessel smaller. So therefore, less blood will get through the vein. And sometimes the inflammation will leave behind scar tissue.

[annekat]

The inflammation occurs on the inside of the vessel walls and makes the cross section area of the vessel smaller. So therefore, less blood will get through the vein. And sometimes the inflammation will leave behind scar tissue.

Thanks for that explanation, Phil. Fortunately, my veins for drawing blood are still as big as they always were, and I get compliments on them. I guess the vasculitis activity in my arms is not that great.

[chris.wg]

Well had my 3rd rituxam treatment today and as I warned the nurse about the veins she didn't miss persay but it moved and while she got the iv in she was concerned because it didn't seem to break thru the vein until the very end so we did a different tap just to make sure. But no bruising from the first tap at least.

But yeah they all see my veins and say oh those are nice big should be easy to get it there then a decent amount as I said miss anyways.

[Michael Bell]

I'm a lefty when it comes to my monthly bloods. My right arm just does not want to give( possibly it had a bad scare when I was watching a vampire movie) although it was not too bad when I was in ICU. Sometimes the plebologists that attend my local clinic can still miss but not often thank goodness. I do have a lot of scaring on my left elbow from all the times blood is drawn, I await the moment the police get a look and have me down as a drug addict. My next post could well be from inside one of Her Britanic Majesties Prisons, possibly Strangeways.
Mike